Let’s do what I said I was going to do--Assess, Consider, Educate ACE (from day one)

Assess:
Get “it” out there into the universe. Name it.
Call it out! Say it. If you can say it, you can commit to it.
What would you do? If you felt better. What would you do?

What are you missing?

Consider
Why? What is stopping you? What is in your way?
If you can say what is really stopping you (I mean be honest, really!) then the smart person that you are can solve it. Maybe not easily but you can do it.

What would have to change?

Educate
There is stuff you need to know. Maybe you need to know what others do.
Maybe you need to know where to get help?

What do you need?

I want you to feel okay about not doing everything perfect so let’s make some fun of me. Miss know-it-all health.

Assess—What am I missing?
If I wasn’t so driven I would read more books, spend more time joking around with my kids. I would drink coffee with friends that I don’t get to see. I’d look at the stars. I’d stare into the eyes of the one I love.

Shit, I’m missing a lot.

Consider—Why and what would I have to change?

I feel guilty when I’m not working, producing, creating. I think it comes from my dad both genetically & behaviorally. I love him but he is a go gett’er. So, I go gett’er too.

I don’t like to feel guilty so to change I’d have to decide that I’m worth the space I take up in the world just by being me.

Say it with me: I am worth the space just by being me!

That it’s okay if I lay around a little. It doesn’t make me a loser. Also, the world does not depend on me to be productive and I’m being arrogant to think I matter so much.

Okay so that kind of hurt.

Educate—What do I need?

This talk by Brene Brown on vulnerability. 10,900,000,000+ people watched it. It really helped me because (I think) when ever I feel insecure I work.

6 Comments

Elaine Gallant
on September 26, 2013 at 12:38 am

You’re funny! And, I like your backdoor approach to answering your own questions by listing what you won’t do…(.I think I saw that in a previous page of your site. ) But what would I do if I felt better? Well, I already feel pretty good but I do have weak periods.. I think I’d feel better if I could save the world…wait, that might be too much and maybe, just maybe, that’s what I need to work on.

Thinking waaaay too BIG often stops me from doing anything at all about whatever it is I want to do. Thinking BIG is my problem, therefore I often do not start.

Elaine,
I’m with you. I think too big. And I say yes to quickly. I’m all about the yes and then I get over whelmed.
Have you seen http://www.thehungersite.com You can save the world in a small, free way every single day!!
Ann

Hey Ann,
I’m feeling better already because I’m on week two of being smoke-free. Next, I’ll be working harder on losing a little more weight. I’m loving your site. You always make me smile. I think if I felt my best I would be a much happier person with a better outlook on life. I guess I’d like to be more like you. 🙂

Hey Ann, I came and sat by you last week and here I am again! What a fantastic idea, because I know that sitting by you can bring a lot of LOL moments. What would I do if I felt better; start playing tennis again on a regular. I must admit this blog has got me motivated to get my hips moving to be able to get on the courts without my knees, feet and back hurting for days after only 15 min of hitting (and you know that’s not consistent hitting or running). Ciao Bella!

Hey Girl, It’s good to read your voice–because it totally comes through. Tennis is amazing for you if you can hit the ball. I am not good with a ball and racquet. I am good with, um….a treadmill.
Missing you. Come work for Wwhitewater. I’d love to see you every day. I took it for granted when I was at UWM

Unreasonable Institute is a mentorship program for entrepreneurs tackling global challenges. Every year, Unreasonable handpicks 25 entrepreneurs from around the world to unite in Boulder under 1 roof for 6 weeks. There, they receive guidance from 50 mentors. They build relationships with over 25 investment funds, scores of other funders, and a network supports them as they work to scale to 1 million beneficiaries.

Buy Now: The Dog Year!

'The Dog Year' is Ann Garvin's new new novel released by Berkley-a Penguin imprint.

'The Dog Year' is Ann Garvin's new novel by Berkley-a Penguin imprint. The Dog Year brings to life new characters that we fall in love with through their everyday happenstance and lively interactions.
Meet Ann here in a brief video about her novel, 'On Maggie's Watch' available through these retailers.

"I know of few authors who are funnier or more sympathetic than Ann Garvin, and I know of few heroines more in need of comic relief and sympathy than Dr. Lucy Peterman. This novel will make your stomach hurt with laughter and your heart ache with sadness. The Dog Year is a kind, gentle, honest look at a woman whose life has come apart and a survivor who puts it all back together."

New York Times best selling author Wiley Cash Author of A Land More Kind Than Home & the upcoming This Dark Road to Mercy

Most Recent Bits

Support

About Ann

Ann Garvin is a mother first, an Author (Berkley/Jove a Penguin imprint) a professor of Health (University of Wisconsin Whitewater) and creative writing in the Masters of Fine Arts program at Southern New Hampshire University. She’s a labradoodle at heart; a mutt with real enthusiasm for a people and a good laugh. Read more.

Blog

The secrets & humor of writing, publishing, nutrition, stress, & exercise are some of what you will find in Ann Garvin’s blog. Her blog should be called, “Don’t Fence Me In” or “Come sit by me,” as it is what she would say if you find yourself together. But be prepared to get in trouble for laughing during the boring bits of life. Go to the blog.

Published Work

“[...] Ann Wertz Garvin writes with humor & compassion so well; just when I’d feel about to cry the scene would twist and I’d laugh out loud. She has such deep understanding for her flawed and trying-to-get better characters; [...].” -Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners

Tall Poppy Writers

Uniting smart readers with like-minded writers through the Tall Poppy group. Ann knows women are shushed, under-valued, and cut “down to size.” But, Ann knows that if a tall poppy is left to grow, other poppies in the field will rise and reach for the ample sun where everybody gets a voice & everybody gets to grow.